Video: Emotional Gary Pinkel gives out his first-ever game ball

Posted by: Chris Vannini on Sunday September 01, 2013

On Saturday night, Gary Pinkel did something he’d never done before in his coaching career: He gave out a game ball.

Running back Henry Josey picked up 113 yards on 13 carries in his first game since Nov. 3, 2011, when he suffered a knee injury that some thought was career-ending. Mizzou defeated Murray State 58-14.

The scene in the locker room after the win was incredible.

“I’ve been coaching 35 years. It’s a team game. It’s all team. We know that,” Pinkel told his players. “I never gave out a ball. I’ve never got into a locker room and said, one guy, you get the ball. But we have a teammate here who battled himself back. Nobody knows, except you guys, what he went through to do this. He had a lot of people help him. He’s a hell of a guy, and I’m just so proud to give this to your teammate, Henry Josey.”

The Tigers went crazy. Here’s the video. Just an awesome moment.

Chris Vannini is in his third year with CoachingSearch.com and serves as its managing editor. He has previously written for The Detroit Free Press, The Oakland Press, The State News, MLive.com, 247Sports and SB Nation. A graduate of Michigan State University, Chris lives in the Metro Detroit area. Be sure to follow @coachingsearch and send emails to chris@coachingsearch.com.